Improvement in portable pence



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ALBERT ,ARMITAGE, or PHELPS TOWNSHIP, AND JOHN 0L ARCADIA, NEWYORK.

Letters Patent No. 96,536, dated Not-ember 9, 1869 IMPROVEMENT IN PORTABLE FENCE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part'of the same.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT ARMITAGE, of Phelps township, Ontario county, and JOHN H. OLMSTED, of Arcadia, in the county of Wayne, and in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Fences; and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, making a part of this specification,

in which- Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures.

gur invention is an improvement in poitable fences;

, It consists in the peculiar form and construction of the same, by means of which great strength, durability, and convenience are obtained at a small expenditure of material, and consequently of money.

In the annexed drawing-- A and B represent the line and corner-posts, respectively, the first of which consists of an ordinary post, set into the ground, having a height-equal to the distance above the ground at which it. is desired to place the top rail of a picket-panel. I

G and D represent the top and bottom rails, respectively, of a picket-fence, placed horizontally and par! allel to each other, and connected together by means of a series of vertical pickets,.E, in the usual manner.

As shown in fig. 1, the upper rail 0 corresponds in length to the distance between the centres of the posts, and has each inner corner cut away to, or on a line with the inner edge of the post, and usually onehalf of the width of the rail, leaving a projecting end or tenon, 0.

Each line-post A has a right-angled notch extending horizontally across its upper end, upon its outer or front side, and in a line with the fence in which the tenon c, of the rail A, rests, said rail being held in place, from the front, by means of a vertical board, l or, if desired, by two pickets, secured to the face of" said post, and projecting laterally in either direction.

The lower rail, D, much lighter-than the other, corresponds in length with the distance between the posts, and is held in position, transversely, by means of the board F uponits front, and a cleat, G, secured to the post immediately in its rear.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that the weight of each panel is supported by the top rail 0, resting within the notch upon the upper end of the post, but if desired, another cleat may be secured to said post, immediately beneath the lower rail, and thus enable it to support its proportion of the weight.

In order that the panels may be secured in place, vertically, so as to prevent hogs or other animals from raising the same, a button, H, is pivoted upon the post, immediately above and inline with the lower rail D, so that when turned down, said rail is locked in place, and when turned up, it offers no obstruction to the removal of the same.- ..If desired, a pin may be employed for locking the .panel in place, instead of the button above described,

but it is believed that the latter will be found preferable, as it cannot, like the pin, be misplaced or lost.

Itbeing desirable that the construction of the fence be such as to allow of the passage of a horse or other animal without the removal of a panel, the outer corners of each upper rail, 0, are rounded, as seen in fig. 1, and allow either end of the panel to be detached and swung inward sufliciently for this purose.

P The corner-post B is constructed in substantially the same manner as the line-post before described,

with regard to the provisions for connecting the panels,

the only points of difference being'such as its position requires.-

'llie picket-panels hereiubefore described, are believed to be the most desirable of any, but as some might prefer the ordinary board fence, a panel is shown in fig. 3, which is adapted to this form of post.

As seen in the drawing, four or more boards, I, are secured-in position, parallel with each other, by means of three cross-pieces, K, extending across the same,

at a right angle therewith.

The third and fourth rails correspond in length to the distance between the centres of the posts, and the former is notched at its lower outer corner, 4;, so as to enable it to fit over the corner of the post. The second rail is of a sufficient length to pass inside of the buttons, while the first rail fills the space between the posts.

As thus constructed, it will be seen that the first and third rails correspond with the rails O and D, of the picket-panel, and perform the same oflice, so that the attachment to, or removal from the posts of this panel requires the same operation as in the former instance.

This fence possesses many advantages, among which are First, it enables a farmer to quickly and easily remove the panels aud place them horizontallyupon the ground, so as to avoid the huge drift-s of snow that in MSTED, or

the North accumulate around standing fences, and also to allow the teams, when plowing, to pass through,

and thus enable the farmer to cultivate his land to the line of the fence, instead of from within six to eight feet of the same, as is usually the case.

Second, it affords a saving of from one-quarter to one-third in the amount of materialrequired, the posts being fully one-third less in height than those usually employed, while from the absence of all lapping of rails or boards, a smaller running length is necessary.

Third, while possessing the above-named advantages, the fence is so simple in construction as to enable any farmer to construct the same; is exceedingly strong'and durable, and much cheaper than those commonly used.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of our invention,

tober, 1869. a

ALBERT ARMITAGE. L. s.] JOHN H.- OLMSTED. L. s.] Witnesses:

S. K. VVrLLIAMs,

S. L. OLMsTED,

GEO. W. DYER,

Gno. S. PRINDLE. 

